Recently I came across a line in an article that has really stuck with me.

Worry is simply a refusal to accept life as it is.

Since I read these words, no matter how much my mind has tried, it simply cannot manage to refute the truth of this statement.

As I contemplate more, I am slowly realizing that each moment I spend in worry is a moment spent away from my actual life as it unfolds, moment by moment.

As well, for every minute I spend worrying, that is a minute I have not spent acting to positively influence the course of my present….and thus my future.

Worst of all, when I permit my mind to soak itself in worrisome thoughts and scenarios, I am giving it permission to creatively imagine into being a potential future I am clear that I do not want.

Yet, for me at least, the daily practice of worrying is not just habitually ingrained, but socially reinforced.

For instance, much advertising is about controlling for worries before they can happen – usually by buying the products or services being advertised.

Much social and work conversation also revolves around expressing worries and working through hypothetical if/then scenarios with family, friends, and colleagues.

Worry has become as much a part of the fabric of today’s society as love, death, health, and faith – so much so that to not worry seems more irresponsible than practical.

But truthfully, worry has added nothing to my life but, well, more worry.

In fact, as I look back, I see that most of my worries have (thankfully) never come to pass, but for those that have, I have successfully moved through them not through more worrying, but with daily reasonable action….plus a healthy dose of faith where I could manage it.

So now I feel ever more dedicated to ending my worry habit and replacing it with something that both feels better and delivers much better results.

My mentor has often reminded me that there are two ways to move through life – one is to jump into the river and (salmon-like) fight against the current all the way. The other is to jump into the river and let the current carry me all the way.

Either way, I reach my destination – the same destination.

So here I am not choosing where I go, per se, but rather how I arrive – broken and bruised, or peaceful and full of poise and serenity.

For the record, I choose option b. Now comes the hardest part – putting my choice into daily action.

Today’s Takeaway: What does it feel like – battling worry? Have you found any successful techniques that can take your worrisome thoughts and emotions away? If it sometimes feels like worry is taking over your actual daily life, what could you do to take back your right to live life as it happens, no longer worrying but simply taking the next right step as it presents itself?